Indigenous elders condemn intervention extension

Sat 5 Nov 2011, 11:10 AM AEDT

A group of Aboriginal leaders say they are furious about the Federal Government's plan to extend the Northern Territory intervention next year.

The intervention was meant to wrap up next year but last month Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin announced that measures including alcohol bans and welfare quarantining in remote communities will continue.

Ms Macklin has signalled legislation will be introduced into Parliament before Christmas.

Rosalie Kunoth-Monks from Utopia in Central Australia says communities around the Territory are angry the Government is extending the intervention.

"After almost five years of the oppression of the intervention we demand that the Government hand back to us control over our communities," she said.

"We reject the Stronger Futures document. We reject it absolutely.

"We will not support an extension of the intervention legislation, we did not ask for it, in fact, we call for a genuine apology."

Barbara Shaw from Alice Springs says the intervention is discriminatory and the Government has ignored the concerns of many people.

"We know what we want and the arrogance of the Australian Government as well as the Northern Territory Government, they just don't want to listen to the views of the people like us," she said.

The elders say the intervention is causing shame and embarrassment in Aboriginal communities.